Prickly pear cacti, Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, South America.

Prickly pear cacti grow into trees up to 40 feet (12 meters) in height on Santa Cruz Island, in the Galápagos Islands archipelago, Ecuador, South America. The taller species of prickly pear are usually found on islands where they compete with dense vegetation and contend with giant tortoises, which eat their pads. Shorter species of prickly pear are usually found on islands with sparse vegetation and no tortoises. Various observations suggest that competition for light and consumption by tortoises has influenced the evolution of the fourteen diverse types of Galápagos prickly pear. Prickly pear pads provide the major food source for tortoises and land iguanas. The fruits sustain Galápagos doves, mockingbirds, and land iguanas. Native Galápagos cactus finches depend upon the flowers, fruits, and seeds of the prickly pear cactus for survival.

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Filename: 09ECU-4771_Galapagos.jpg
Copyright: © Tom Dempsey / Photoseek.com
Image Size: 4800x3339 / 3.7MB; http://www.photoseek.com/; Ecuador Galapagos Islands Pacific Ocean Plantae South America adventure desert equator plants travel
Contained in galleries: ECUADOR: Galapagos Islands

Prickly pear cacti grow into trees up to 40 feet (12 meters) in height on Santa Cruz Island, in the Galápagos Islands archipelago, Ecuador, South America. The taller species of prickly pear are usually found on islands where they compete with dense vegetation and contend with giant tortoises, which eat their pads. Shorter species of prickly pear are usually found on islands with sparse vegetation and no tortoises. Various observations suggest that competition for light and consumption by tortoises has influenced the evolution of the fourteen diverse types of Galápagos prickly pear. Prickly pear pads provide the major food source for tortoises and land iguanas. The fruits sustain Galápagos doves, mockingbirds, and land iguanas. Native Galápagos cactus finches depend upon the flowers, fruits, and seeds of the prickly pear cactus for survival.